By: Kelvin Chiringa
The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) has been accused of Intellectual Property (IP) theft by two local entrepreneurs who have since written a letter to them.
The investment board recently introduced the idea of a Namibian Retail Store code-named Ostora, a branded retail store which will stock Namibian made goods produced by SMEs.
However, two entrepreneurs, Ndeshimana Nghimwena and Rousa Shikoha, have now accused the board of stealing the idea from them.
They accused the Nangula Uaandja-led board of playing David versus Goliath and have CC’d trade minister, Lucia Iipumbu in their letter.
“It has come to our attention that NIPDB intends to open a Namibian Retail Store. We learned of NIPDB’s intention through an article that appeared in The Namibian Newspaper dated on 23rd of August 2021.
“We believe your plans infringe on our ownership of the idea of the Local Merchant Store. This is a clear sign of unfair competition and theft of intellectual property, especially since you are a body set up to facilitate and assist MSMEs in Namibia and your announcement comes after receiving our business proposal,” they said.
They have also indicated their intentions to approach the Namibian Competition Commission to call the Board to order.
They said that on the 19th of July 2021, they submitted a detailed business proposal to the board for the Dubai 2020 Expo Startup initiative.
However, this was rejected, they said.
“We believe that NIPDB used “Bait and Switch” tactics to get us to give our business model only for you to reject it and replicate it for yourself. When we submitted our proposal and plans to NIPDB it was because we believed that your non-profit enterprise is established to assist MSMEs like us and not to compete with the MSMEs.
“These are the exact accusations that have always been levelled at the former Namibia Investment Centre (NIC), where business ideas were stolen after business promoters submitted their business proposals,” they said.
This also follows economist Dr Omu Kakujaha-Matundu telling one daily newspaper that “the board has no business in retail space”.
Meanwhile, the Board’s Margareth Gustavo has said they can only respond on Tuesday.
The duo has also told the board to immediately cease and desist with its plans in opening a Namibian store.
“Rather stick to your mandate of assisting established MSMEs. NIPDB cannot be both a player and referee in the Namibian business market. Please be advised that we are prepared to take all actions necessary to protect our business that you are infringing on.
“Should we not receive a written response to this letter by 27 August 2021, we will commence immediate action with the Namibian Competition Commission and necessary stakeholders,” they said.
Dr. Kakujaha-Matundu said the board is wadding into territory where they don’t belong and lack expertise to navigate.
He, however, could not comment on the legalities and accusations levelled against the Board.
“One cannot expect a Board like that to now start to open some retail shop. First, they don’t have the expertise. Second, they are not going to open a one-dollar shop. They are going to compete against retail giants from South Africa.
“They are going to compete against their own, the Namibian SMEs or retail shops. So, what I think they should do instead as an arm, if they are an arm at all, of the ministry of industrialization and trade, go back to the retail charter, go back, and talk to Team Namibia and everything that is already in place and see why do we find it very difficult to find retail space?
“And should this Ostora thing be something that is on some people’s minds and as they have pointed out that this was the idea of the ministry of industrialisation and trade, they should leave it there at the ministry because they are the ones who have been for the longest time having things like your incubation centres,” he said.
The investment board’s core mandate is to promote and facilitate investment by foreign and Namibian investors and new ventures that contribute to the economic development and job creation.
It implements the Namibia Investment Policy and the attendant strategy.
It also reviews and proposes policy reforms and measures to support trade and investment promotion, conducive labour market policies, improve the country’s competitiveness and the ease of doing business.
